History of the Jews 1 Exodus

Summary

This script explores the rich history of the Jewish people, from their monotheistic origins over 3000 years ago to their enduring cultural impact. It narrates their trials, from exile to the Babylonian conquest, the return to Jerusalem under Cyrus the Great, and the construction of the Second Temple by Ezra. The script delves into the significance of the Torah, the Maccabean Revolt, and the influence of Hellenistic and Roman cultures. It highlights key moments like the Exodus, the Ten Commandments, and the building of Herod's Temple, showcasing the resilience and faith of the Jewish people throughout history.

Takeaways

• 🌐 The history of the Jewish people began over 3000 years ago with the development of monotheism, which had a profound impact on the world.
• 🏙️ Jerusalem has been a contested city for centuries, with the Jewish people often at the mercy of superior conquerors.
• 📜 The Torah, created by compiling religious traditions, is central to the Jewish religion and resembles the first five books of the Old Testament.
• 🔥 The Book of Exodus tells the story of the Israelites' liberation from Egypt, a significant event celebrated during Passover.
• 🏔️ The Ten Commandments, given to Moses on Mount Sinai, form the ethical foundation of the Jewish faith and regulate people's relationship with God.
• 🏛️ The Ark of the Covenant, containing the Ten Commandments, was a visible sign of God's presence and a symbol of the Israelites' covenant with God.
• 🏗️ King David conquered Jerusalem and made it the new capital, bringing the Ark of the Covenant to the city and initiating a period of significant construction.
• 🕋 The Babylonian conquest of Jerusalem in 586 BC led to the destruction of the city and the exile of the Judean upper class to Babylon.
• 🏛️ The return of the Judeans from Babylonian exile, allowed by Persian King Cyrus, marked a new beginning for the Jewish people and the reestablishment of their religious and cultural identity.
• 🏟️ Herod the Great, declared king by the Roman Senate, undertook massive construction projects in Jerusalem, including a new temple, to impress his subjects and solidify his rule.

Q & A

What is the significance of monotheism in the history of the Jewish people?

Monotheism, the belief in one God who tolerates no other gods, was a revolutionary idea that originated with the Jewish people over 3000 years ago and has had a profound impact on the world, shaping their identity and religious practices.

How did the Jews maintain their identity after being scattered around the world due to wars and persecution?

The Jewish people maintained their identity through their shared history, religious beliefs, and cultural practices, as well as through the compilation of their religious traditions into the Torah, which stands at the center of Judaism.

What role did Ezra play in the resurrection of Jerusalem after the captivity in Babylon?

Ezra, a priest and scribe, led the Jews back to Jerusalem after their captivity in Babylon. He and his followers brought gold and jewelry to help rebuild the city and the temple, and his knowledge and patience made him a revered religious leader.

What is the significance of the Torah in the Jewish religion and its relation to the Old Testament?

The Torah is the central text of the Jewish religion, containing the teachings and laws that have guided Jewish life for millennia. It is also the first five books of the Old Testament, making it a significant text for both Jews and Christians.

What is the story of Exodus and its importance in Jewish history?

The story of Exodus tells of the Israelites' liberation from Egyptian slavery under the leadership of Moses, who was given a mission by God. This story is central to Jewish history and is celebrated annually during Passover, symbolizing freedom and the establishment of the Jewish people as a distinct entity.

What are the Ten Commandments and their significance in the Jewish faith?

The Ten Commandments are a set of moral and religious laws given to Moses by God on Mount Sinai. They regulate the relationship between people and God and serve as the ethical foundation of civilization, being a cornerstone of the Jewish, and by extension, the Christian faith.

What is the significance of circumcision in Jewish tradition and its symbolism?

Circumcision is an important symbolic act in Jewish tradition, marking the covenant between God and the Jewish people. It is performed on every male Jewish infant eight days after birth and signifies his initiation into the Jewish community.

What was the significance of the Ark of the Covenant in the Israelites' journey to the promised land?

The Ark of the Covenant was a portable shrine containing the stone tablets with the Ten Commandments. It served as a visible sign of God's presence and a symbol of the Israelites' covenant with God, providing them with guidance and assurance during their journey.

What is the historical significance of the city of Jerusalem to the Jewish people?

Jerusalem holds immense historical significance for the Jewish people as it is considered the center of their faith and the location of the First and Second Temples. It has been the site of many pivotal events in Jewish history, including the reign of King David and the construction of Solomon's Temple.

What was the impact of the Babylonian exile on the Jewish people and their faith?

The Babylonian exile was a period of great suffering for the Jewish people, but it also led to a strengthening of their faith and identity. During this time, they developed a strong sense of unity and longing for their homeland, which was later fulfilled when Cyrus the Great allowed them to return to Jerusalem.

How did the Maccabees' revolt against Hellenistic influence impact the Jewish people and their culture?

The Maccabees' revolt was a significant event that resisted the Hellenization of Jewish culture and the suppression of Jewish religious practices. The successful rebellion led to the rededication of the Temple in Jerusalem, an event celebrated today as Hanukkah, symbolizing the importance of religious freedom and cultural identity.

Outlines

00:00

🌏 The Origins and Dispersal of the Jewish People

This paragraph delves into the ancient beginnings of the Jewish people over 3000 years ago in the desert, where the concept of monotheism emerged, profoundly impacting the world. The narrative recounts the trials of war and persecution that led to the scattering of Jews globally. Despite these adversities, Jews have significantly contributed as thinkers, scientists, and artists, maintaining their identity through the ages. The script also touches on the historical significance of Jerusalem and the return of the Jews from Babylonian captivity under the leadership of Ezra, who played a crucial role in the resurrection of Jerusalem and the Jewish faith.

05:01

📜 The Creation of the Torah and the Exodus

The paragraph discusses the compilation of religious traditions by the Jewish people during their time in foreign lands, leading to the creation of the Torah, a central text in Judaism and the first five books of the Christian Old Testament. The story of Exodus is highlighted, detailing the mission of Moses, who led the Israelites out of Egyptian servitude after a series of plagues. The importance of the book of Exodus in understanding the Jewish people's origins is emphasized, along with the celebration of Passover as a remembrance of their liberation from Egypt.

10:02

🏛 The Struggle for the Promised Land and the Ten Commandments

This section of the script focuses on the Israelites' arduous journey towards the 'Promised Land,' facing challenges such as scarcity of food and water. The significance of Mount Sinai is underscored as the location where God is said to have given Moses the Ten Commandments, which serve as the ethical foundation of civilization. The paragraph also details the cultural and religious practices of the Israelites, including circumcision as a covenant with God and the use of prayer straps known as tefillin.

15:03

🏺 The Israelites' Settlement and the Quest for a Unified State

The paragraph describes the Israelites' settlement in different regions following their Exodus and their encounters with powerful enemies. It narrates the growing dissatisfaction with tribal leadership, culminating in the anointing of Saul as the first king of Israel by the judge Samuel. The paragraph also introduces key figures like David, who became a symbol of heroism after defeating Goliath, and the establishment of Jerusalem as the capital of the unified kingdom under his rule.

20:03

🛠 Archaeological Insights into the Biblical Era

This part of the script brings to light archaeological findings that provide insights into the biblical era, including the discovery of a stone fragment in Tel Dan with an inscription mentioning the 'house of David.' It discusses the challenges in verifying biblical accounts of the conquest of Canaan and the Israelites' settlement in Shiloh. The narrative also touches upon the skepticism of scholars like Israel Finkelstein, who question the historicity of certain biblical events.

25:05

🏺 The Babylonian Exile and the Restoration of Jerusalem

The paragraph recounts the Babylonian conquest of Jerusalem and the subsequent exile of the Judean upper class, as well as the allowance for the common people to remain or move to Egypt. It describes the life of the Judeans in Babylon, their longing for Jerusalem, and their faith that united them. The script also highlights the pivotal moment when Persian King Cyrus conquered Babylon and permitted the Judeans to return home, marking a significant chapter in Jewish history.

30:05

📜 The Compilation of the Torah and the Influence of Hellenism

This section discusses the compilation of the Torah by Ezra and other scholars post-exile, emphasizing its role in reinforcing the identity of the Jewish people. The script also explores the impact of Hellenistic civilization on the region after Alexander the Great's conquest, including the construction of cities like Marissa and the influence of Greek culture on Jewish life.

35:07

🔨 The Maccabean Revolt and the Rediscovery of Jewish Identity

The paragraph narrates the Maccabean Revolt against the Hellenistic rulers, led by the priest Mattathias and his son Judas Maccabeus, who fought against the forced adoption of Greek customs and the suppression of Jewish religious practices. The story culminates in the rededication of the temple in Jerusalem, the miracle of the oil that lasted eight days, and the establishment of Hanukkah as a celebration of Jewish resilience and faith.

40:10

🏟️ The Reign of Herod the Great and Roman Domination

This section delves into the reign of Herod the Great, who, despite being seen as a Roman puppet by many Jews, embarked on ambitious construction projects to modernize Judea and impress his subjects. Herod's efforts to build a new temple in Jerusalem, which would surpass Solomon's in grandeur, are highlighted, as well as the economic and cultural boom it brought to the region. The paragraph also touches on the political dynamics between the Jews and the Romans, hinting at the tension that would shape their future relations.

Keywords

💡Monotheism

Monotheism is the belief in the existence of only one God. It is a central concept in the video script, as it represents the foundational belief of the Jewish people that originated over 3000 years ago. The script explains how this belief system was revolutionary and had a profound impact on the course of world history. For instance, the video describes the development of monotheism as an idea that 'would change the world,' highlighting its significance in shaping the Jewish identity and their religious practices.

💡Diaspora

Diaspora refers to the widespread dispersion of a population from their original homeland. In the context of the video, the Jewish diaspora denotes the scattering of Jews around the world due to war and persecution. This concept is integral to understanding the resilience and adaptability of the Jewish people, as mentioned in the script where it states 'war and persecution, scattered the Jews all around the world.' The diaspora is also significant as it led to the establishment of Jewish communities in various regions, contributing to their cultural diversity and survival as a distinct group.

💡Jerusalem

Jerusalem is a city of profound religious significance, especially in Judaism. The script frequently mentions Jerusalem as a focal point for the Jewish faith and history. It is described as the destination of the Jewish people's return from captivity in Babylon, as well as the site where the temple, a central place of worship, was to be rebuilt. The city's importance is further emphasized by its role in various historical events, such as the reign of King David and the construction projects of Herod the Great.

💡Torah

The Torah is the central reference of the Jewish law and religious tradition, consisting of the first five books of the Hebrew Bible. The script describes the creation of the Torah as a compilation of religious traditions, including stories, revelations, and laws of God. It is depicted as a crucial element in maintaining the Jewish identity and faith, especially during times of dispersion. The script also highlights the Torah's significance in the formation of the Jewish religion and its enduring presence as the 'book of teaching and the law'.

💡Exodus

Exodus refers to the liberation of the Israelites from slavery in Egypt, led by Moses, as described in the Bible. The script recounts the story of Exodus as a pivotal event in Jewish history, symbolizing the journey from oppression to freedom. The book of Exodus within the Torah plays a central role, narrating the dramatic story of God's intervention and the subsequent liberation of the Israelites. The script also mentions how the event is commemorated through the Jewish holiday of Passover.

💡Ten Commandments

The Ten Commandments are a set of biblical principles relating to ethics and worship, inscribed on two stone tablets received by Moses from God. The script explains their significance as the ethical foundation of the Jewish, and by extension, Western civilization. They are highlighted in the context of the covenant made at Mount Sinai, where Moses brought the commandments down to the people, signifying the start of a binding agreement between the Israelites and God.

💡Circumcision

Circumcision is a religious and cultural practice signifying the covenant between God and the Jewish people. The script describes it as an important commandment and a symbolic act marking the initiation of every male Jewish infant into the Jewish community. It is mentioned as a rite of passage that occurs eight days after birth, serving as a physical reminder of the covenant and the child's identity as a Jew.

💡Hanukkah

Hanukkah, also known as the Festival of Lights, is a Jewish holiday commemorating the rededication of the Second Temple in Jerusalem. The script recounts the story of the Maccabees' revolt against the Hellenistic King Antiochus IV Epiphanes, leading to the liberation and purification of the temple. The miracle of Hanukkah, as described in the script, involves a single container of oil that miraculously lasted for eight days, symbolizing the perseverance and faith of the Jewish people.

💡Herod the Great

Herod the Great was a Roman client king of Judea, known for his ambitious construction projects and political acumen. The script describes him as a controversial figure who sought to modernize Judea and win favor with the Jewish people by building grand structures, including the renovation of the Second Temple. Despite his efforts, he was viewed with suspicion by many Jews as a puppet of Rome, yet his influence on the region's architecture and economy was undeniable.

💡Judea

Judea refers to the ancient region in the Southern Levant, inhabited primarily by the Jewish people. The script discusses Judea's historical significance as the homeland of the Jews, its conquest by various empires, and its transformation under different rulers. The region's history is marked by periods of autonomy, foreign rule, and cultural exchange, as illustrated by the script's references to the Babylonian exile, the return under Persian rule, and the incorporation into the Roman Empire.

💡Cyrus the Great

Cyrus the Great was the founder of the Achaemenid Empire and is notable in the script for his policy of宽容 towards conquered peoples. The script highlights his decree allowing the Judeans to return to their homeland and rebuild their temple after the Babylonian exile. This act earned him a significant place in Jewish history, being interpreted by some as a divine intervention for the benefit of the Jewish people.

Highlights

The Jewish people's history began over 3000 years ago with the development of monotheism.

Jews have been scattered worldwide due to war and persecution, maintaining their identity through various contributions as thinkers, scientists, and artists.

The city of Jerusalem has been a significant center for the Jewish faith, despite being fought over repeatedly throughout history.

The return of the Jews to Jerusalem under Ezra's leadership and the resurrection of the city as the Jewish faith center post-Babylonian captivity.

The creation of the Torah, the central text of Jewish religion, which also resembles the first five books of the Old Testament.

The Book of Exodus's central role in telling the dramatic story of the Israelites' liberation from Egypt.

The celebration of Passover as a symbol of liberation and the significance of unleavened bread (matzah) in the remembrance of the Exodus.

The Ten Commandments as the ethical foundation of civilization and their unique representation in Jewish faith.

The importance of circumcision as a covenant between every male Jew and God, symbolizing initiation into the Jewish world.

The significance of the Ark of the Covenant as a visible sign of God's presence with the Israelites.

The conquest of Canaan and the establishment of a fixed center for the Israelites' shrine in Shiloh, though this account is disputed by some scholars.

The reign of King David, the symbol of a hero, and his conquest of Jerusalem, making it the new capital.

The construction of Solomon's Temple, intended to be a symbol of faith and the center of the Jewish religion.

The division of the kingdom after Solomon's death into Israel and Judea, leading to hostile coexistence and external threats.

The Babylonian conquest of Jerusalem and the exile of the Judean upper class, leading to the loss of their religious center.

The return of the Judeans from Babylonian exile under Cyrus the Great's decree, allowing them to rebuild their homeland.

The compilation of the Torah as a means to reinforce the identity and boundaries of the Jewish nation.

The influence of Hellenistic culture on the Jewish people and the Maccabean Revolt against the Hellenization of Jewish life.

The story of Hanukkah, celebrating the rededication of the temple and the miracle of the oil that lasted for eight days.

The incorporation of Judea into the Roman province of Syria and the rise of Herod the Great as a Roman-backed king.

Herod's ambitious construction projects, including the expansion of Jerusalem and the building of a new temple.

The impact of Roman rule on the Jewish people and the potential for conflict between foreign domination and Jewish autonomy.

Transcripts

the history of the Jewish people began

more than 3000 years ago in the desert

an idea developed of the one and only

God one who tolerates no other gods but

him monotheism was an idea that would

change the world war and persecution

scattered the Jews all around the world

it's a story of splendor and suffering

that leads right up to the present day

they've left their mark as great

thinkers scientists and artists how did

the Jews manage to maintain their

identity over all these years

[Music]

[Applause]

the Jews history other people Jerusalem

450 BC for centuries the city's being

fought over time and again the Jewish

people have been at the mercy of

superior conquerors

[Music]

after a long captivity in Babylon the

Jews are finally allowed to return to

their homeland in Jerusalem the last to

arrive are being impatiently awaited

they are being led by the priest and

scribe Ezra he and his followers bring

gold and jewelry with them Jerusalem

must be resurrected and be the center of

the Jewish faith the belief in the one

God with Asura's helped the Jews want to

rebuild the temple that the Babylonians

destroyed

[Music]

part-1 Exodus

Ezra's knowledge and his patients are

vaunted everywhere soon the people of

Jerusalem will vote him their religious

leader they kept their people's memories

and stories in the foreign land the

creation of the world the first people

and the Great Flood stories of heroes

and warriors full of wonder and mystery

revelations and laws of their God now

they're compiling all of these religious

traditions for the rest of time

[Music]

thus the Torah was created the book of

teaching and the law to this day this

book stands at the center of the Jewish

religion but the Torah is not of

significance only for Jews it resembles

the first five books of the Old

Testament the first part of the

Christian Bible the Torah is one of our

few sources concerning the origin of the

Jewish people the book of Exodus plays a

central role it tells a dramatic story

that probably began more than 3000 years

ago

it is written that God appeared to the

Shepherd Moses in a burning bush and

gave him a mission I have seen the

oppression wherewith the Egyptians

oppress them I will send thee unto

Pharaoh that thou mayst bring forth my

people the children of Israel out of

Egypt

[Music]

for 400 years the Jews have lived in

Egyptian servitude

now Moses begs Pharaoh let my people go

but the Egyptian ruler declines so God

brings plagues and natural disasters

onto the land and when all the firstborn

of the Egyptians die Pharaoh lets the

Israelites go free

but he sends his soldiers in pursuit the

book of Exodus tells the fate of the

Israelites with God's help they managed

to escape through the sea the Egyptians

drown in the floods

Moses is leading the Israelites through

the desert what keeps them going is

there hope for God's promised land

flowing with milk and honey

[Music]

young and old men women and children

600,000 people so it is said and their

goal is freedom a life without slavery

[Music]

to this day Jews celebrate Passover and

remember their Exodus their flight from

Egypt it is said that they left quickly

and in secret there was no time to

prepare sourdough for their bread that's

why Jews still eat matzah and Passover

the unleavened bread they also eat

salted eggs bitter herbs and other foods

whose color and texture resemble

Egyptian clay and whose taste reminds

them of bitter times State Pesach

today Passover is the focal point

because it means liberation not just the

liberation of Israel in the beginning of

the history of the Jewish people up to

that time history was as is told by

Genesis the history of the individuals

patriarchs of families and of clans but

in Exodus Israel enters the world stage

as a people divided into tribes it it's

true but they are a unit deep unity this

history begins with liberation before

you but that also means that as Passover

is a symbol of freedom D freiheit

the basic freedom that everyone is

entitled to not just Israel mentioned

two-state the path to freedom is hard in

the third month the fugitives reach

Sinai this peninsular lies between Egypt

and modern-day Israel the Israelites are

said to have fought their way to the

promised land through this inhospitable

environment they don't have enough water

or food every day as a test is God

really with them

[Music]

on Mount Sinai so it is written in the

Bible God appears to Moses once more

[Music]

now therefore if you will obey my voice

indeed and keep my covenant then ye

shall be a peculiar treasure unto me

from among all peoples for all the earth

is mine

the 2300 metre Jebel Musa the mountain

of Moses is said to be the place where

this covenant was made to this day it's

a place of great significance for Jews

Christians and Muslims alike Moses

brings two stone tablets with him from

the summit into which the Ten

Commandments are chiseled they regulate

people's relationship to God and are

also the ethical bedrock of civilization

the first commandments are wider bear

Elohim it color I am THE LORD thy God

which brought thee out of the land of

Egypt out of the house of bondage thou

shalt have none other gods before me

thou shalt not make unto thee a graven

image nor any likeness munna

a Chaba Shama me Mull Pacha bara Smita

had shocking Commandments new and alien

all the other cultures all around

worship many gods and make likenesses

and statues of them the Israelites alone

are to believe their God to be so great

that there is no room for other gods and

that no image could represent him

[Music]

again and again Moses reminds the people

of God's words and if you shall reject

my statutes and break my covenant I also

will do this unto you I will appoint

terror over you even consumption and

fever that shall consume the eyes and

make the soul to pine away the Torah

contains a further 603 injunctions they

regulate the whole of life from waking

to sleeping from the cradle to the grave

it's the duty of every Jew to follow

them but they also give security and

strength in the urban flow of history in

every place on earth

one important commandment also demands

the circumcision of every male Jew eight

days after his birth just like their

forefathers every male Jewish infant is

circumcised eight days after his birth

as a symbol of his covenant with God

this important symbolic act marks his

initiation into the Jewish world and is

celebrated with a big party

[Music]

Pablito thought he must miss covenant is

of great importance for the people of

Israel it's very difficult to live such

a covenant because the human being must

be convinced that it's not only his

accident speak of his relationship with

God but also his body

Maremma

allocation shallow email Hakeem Ella

gamble for circumcision is a painful in

a comprehensible step that frightens

parents before they do this to the

resulted ship movie of behad l'olam if

Mishima see Mozilla Ben Shalom the

prayer straps known as tefillin also

remind faithful Jews of the unbreakable

covenant with God

volha shown working with I'm sure every

little box contains four Torah texts

written on parchment and it shall be for

a sign unto thee upon thine hand and for

a memorial between thine eyes that the

law of the Lord may be in thy mouth for

with a strong hand hath the Lord brought

thee out of Egypt at my service appalled

because I'm Alisha Monica it is written

that the Israelites wandered through the

desert for forty years

then they reached Mount Nebo in

modern-day Jordan it was here that Moses

set eyes on the promised land and once

again he heard God's voice this is the

land which I swear unto Abraham unto

Isaac and unto Jacob saying I will give

it unto thy seed I have caused the to

see it with thine eyes but thou shalt

not go over thither

[Music]

Moses was never to reach the destination

of their long journey he died and was

buried at an unknown location

[Music]

[Applause]

Eretz Israel the Land of Israel to this

day it remains the land of longing for

many Jews according to biblical dating

the Israelites entered Canaan around

1300 BC there they met other peoples

with whom they will be at war time and

again over the coming centuries on their

way to the promised land the Israelites

carry the Ark of the Covenant with them

they keep the stone tablets with the Ten

Commandments that sealed their contract

with God in this golden chest the

portable shrine is the visible sign for

them and their enemies God is always

with us

[Music]

after conquering the land the Israelites

are said to have congregated in Shiloh

for the time being which is between

Jerusalem and modern-day Nablus for the

first time they have a fixed center for

their shrine the time of wandering seems

over the nomads become settled but once

their Exodus really as the Bible tells

it many scholars today doubt this

account the conquest of Canaan by the

Israelites is also contested

indefatigable archaeologists are looking

for definitive traces Israel Finkelstein

from the University of Tel Aviv

questions many biblical events

archeology has shown in the last century

or so that many of the sites which are

mentioned in the text in relation to the

conquest story simply did not exist were

not inhabited so to speak at that time

and secondly we know today that the fall

of the Canaanite system gypto Canaanite

system was a long process so the we are

not dealing with a military conquest of

Canaan by a group of people who march

under one leadership and take you know

one city after the other the Torah isn't

a historical treatise it's a book of

faith in which the birth of the people

is recorded

[Music]

the shrine has its place in Shiloh but

at the moment it's still a tabernacle a

tent a portable temple as a symbol of

the unconsolidated condition of the

young state

many hundreds of years later Ezra the

priest and other scholars write down the

history of their ancestors this is how

the Israelites are said to have settled

in different places after their Exodus

only weekly allied with each other they

were however surrounded by powerful

enemies the Israelites were dissatisfied

so it is written their tribal leaders

the judges were no longer adequate the

demands of the people grew louder and

louder

that we also may be like all the nations

and that our king may judge us and go

out before us and fight our battles

[Music]

it is intended that the old judge Samuel

who was living in Shiloh should anoint

this king

the wise Samuel accepts the task even

though he warns at the dangers of an

abuse of power but his objections fall

on deaf ears and so Saul becomes the

first king of Israel and the loose

association of tribes becomes a state is

it not that the Lord hath anointed thee

to be Prince over his inheritance

the main enemies of Saul and his young

Kingdom are the Philistines the maritime

nation has a well-organized army and

powerful weapons they steal the Ark of

the Covenant more than once

in their fight against the Philistines

it is one Israelite in particular who

attracts attention the shepherd boy

David with a simple slingshot he subdued

the huge Philistine Goliath so it is

said

King Saul is jealous of young David he

fears him as a rival and exiled him

in exile David makes a name for himself

as a relentless warrior

the victory over Goliath becomes the

symbol of the successful battle of one

who is weaker against a more powerful

enemy and David is the symbol of a hero

par excellence

[Music]

even though not everything written about

him resounds to his honor there are

paths of the story let's say in the book

of Samuel where we do have I think texts

describing David in a genuine historical

way when you have David as a

troublemaker living on the margins of

society going with his gang you know

extortion here protecting a city there

running away from Seoul making troubles

this is probably historical David and

his soldiers are in a war camp when a

messenger arrives at the tent

he has tragic news the messenger says he

only just managed to escape the enemy he

says he has Saul's headdress and his

armband Saul fell in the battle against

the Philistines David appears shaken the

king is dead

though a homeless is groomer minute

according to tradition he tore his shirt

honest morning

or cold calculation only a short while

later David is crowned King David

conquers the town of Jeffers from the

Jebusites living there from now on it is

called Jerusalem and he is victorious

against the invading Philistines very

soon the king is ruling over a large

Kingdom so it is written in the Bible

the City of Jerusalem is the new capital

it is here that David brings the holy of

holies of the Israelites the Ark of the

Covenant with the stone tablets of the

law

the oldest part of the city still

carries his name today here David

City of David archaeologist Ronnie

Wright is leading the excavations here

there are hardly any fines from the

legendary times of King David and his

son Solomon a terraced complex is the

exception at first it was ignored when

archaeologists excavated it around 1970

it became important the moment that

scholars started to question the problem

of the what we call the 10th century BC

the days of Solomon David and Solomon in

Jerusalem and then saying that we don't

have much of this period of time in

Jerusalem so suddenly the stepped

structure is actually the only

architectural element which might in

some according to some interpretation

might belong to this period of time and

it is a big thing it's not just a

private house for a long time these

ruins were the only remains

[Music]

but in 1993 archeologists made a

sensational discovery a stone fragment

was found in Tel Dan the Hebraic

inscription mentions the house of David

it's the only non biblical confirmation

for the existence of his dynasty

[Music]

in order to crown his life's work David

wants to build got a temple but God

offends him off

thou shalt not build an house unto my

name because thou hast shed much blood

upon the earth in my sight it was only

David's son Solomon who built the first

temple on a hill near the City of David

now the city is not only the seat of the

king but also the center of the faith

according to the Bible there was a room

in the interior of the temple that was

only accessible to the high priests and

the priests brought in the Ark of the

Covenant of the Lord unto its place into

the Oracle of the house to the most holy

place even under the wings of the

cherubim but where the city in the

temple really as big as they were

described in the 10th century BC

Jerusalem was a very small town maybe a

village not fortified no monumental

buildings the temple itself was probably

kind of a modest building the shrine of

the dynasty the Chapel of the dynasty if

you wish and there could have been a

modest palace as well Jerusalem grows to

become a big city an influential city in

the late 8th century when Judah is

incorporated into the Assyrian global

world economy the Bible remains the only

testimony to the temples existence an

exact search for evidence of remains of

the legendary building is not possible

for religious and political reasons

because these days the Muslim Dome of

the rock and the al-aqsa mosque stand

here

after Solomon's death the kingdom breaks

into two Israel in the north and Judea

in the south

for more than 200 years they live

side-by-side in hostile coexistence

always in danger of being overrun by a

more powerful enemy

right into the 8th century their

religious customs are hardly different

from those of other peoples around the

Mediterranean monotheism hasn't yet

asserted itself at this time they still

worship other gods besides the One God

such as the ancient bull God

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from time to time God even has a wife

the ancient Syrian goddess Ashera it's a

good time for prophets articulate men

who warn of a return to pagan customs

fearless they make themselves into the

voice of God's messages they are both

social critics and soothsayers the

Prophet Jeremiah is one of those who

demands penance and the return to

stricter ways otherwise God would send a

terrible tribunal and Jerusalem would

perish for whom shall have pity upon the

O Jerusalem or who shall bomb on thee or

you shall turn aside to ask of my

welfare thou has rejected me saith the

Lord thou art gone backward

the threats from external enemies are

growing within the city walls there is

hardly a single well the abundant Gyan

source lies outside of the city walls

then in the eighth century Hezekiah king

of Judea plans an extraordinary project

the building of a tunnel for water and

so it is also written in the Bible

this same Hezekiah also stopped the

upper spring of the waters of Gihon and

brought them straight down on the west

side of the city of David and Hezekiah

prospered in all his works a tunnel

below the city was already discovered in

the nineteenth century for a long time

it was disputed whether this was the 8th

century biblical tunnel or not in 2003

researchers from Jerusalem decided to

investigate the ancient tunnel with the

help of radiometry they examined the

tunnel walls the result is a sensation

we managed here to date very accurately

the oldest structure described in the

Bible there is no structure in the Bible

described in the Old Testament which has

been really dated by scientific methods

but how did workers of the Bronze Age

managed to build a 530 metre tunnel into

the mountain without losing their

bearings especially since they dug from

both ends at the same time as a

contemporary inscription records did

they simply follow the natural course of

the water this is also a question that

researchers are investigating by

examining tears and gaps in the stone

after underground research that took

months aya Shimon is convinced that the

tunnel is an architectural master work

how are they possibly directed towards

each other that was done by simply

acoustic communication by guiding teams

on the surface surface team underground

team they heard each other and the

surface team was able to guide the

carving teams underground towards each

other but since this the sound

communication is not really all that

precise it also then explains why the

tunnel zigzags and swings around and

does all kinds of funny things rather

than goes in a straight line

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a new means of obtaining water can

prolong a siege but it can't prevent a

war

in 586 BC the Babylonians conquered

Jerusalem Jeremiah's prophecies come

true then the king of Babylon slew the

sons of Zedekiah in Riblet before his

eyes and the Chaldeans burned the King's

house and the house of the people with

fire and break down the walls of

Jerusalem this is what the Book of

Jeremiah writes about the event that was

to change the fate of Judea for a long

time to come the Babylonian ruler

nebuchadnezzar ii has yet more plans for

judea's population after the destruction

of jerusalem he takes the Judean upper

class to Babylon as spoils of war

the simple people are allowed to stay in

the country or emigrate to neighboring

Egypt

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the Judeans have lost their religious

center and their land Jerusalem is in

ashes will they also lose their faith in

God

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Judea is assimilated into the Babylonian

Kingdom that stretches from the

Mediterranean to Persia in the center of

this vast empire lies the legendary city

of Babylon

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it is the time of nebuchadnezzar ii

babylon is a city of superlatives

witnesses are awestruck by its

magnificence the houses are built of

solid brick walls the Tower of Babel is

legendary and the Hanging Gardens are

among the seven wonders of the ancient

world in around 500 BC the Greek

historian Herodotus wrote Babylon wasn't

just a fairly large city but it was also

the most beautiful city of all the ones

we know of

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at the beginning of the 20th century the

German archaeologist horbet coal of a

excavated a city that had long been

forgotten

most Judeans are living a good life in

their Babylonian exile women and

children can move about freely and many

men are working as officials at the

court the generations that grow up here

only know their home from the stories of

the elders their memories sound like a

promise

by the waters of Babylon we sat down and

wept when we remembered thee Oh sigh on

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they called Jerusalem Zion the city

chosen by God and His people for them it

was the embodiment of the promised land

their hope to one day return and their

faith in their God United them in these

foreign lands

in 539 BC the Persian king Cyrus

conquers Babylon and allows the Judeans

to return home some decide to stay and

found the Babylonian community that was

to remain in existence for more than

2,000 years cyrus thus ensured himself

an important place in Jewish history was

it political calculation or clemency

towards the conquered people's on the so

called Cyrus cylinder which is now in

the British Museum in London the ruler

had his achievements recorded I Cyrus

king of this vast empire king of the

four Shores of the world

I brought the gods who were living there

back to their place I got all their

people together and brought them back to

their homes I don't think this was the

only example that was written under

Cyrus I think there must have been many

proclamations issued about what was

going to happen and in the authorship of

the Old Testament this was using the

same terminology in some cases as the

original Babylonian text interpreted

that Cyrus was the messenger of the God

of the Jews and that he had come

specially to rescue the Jews in their

predicament but the Jewish people are

not mentioned in this text at all and

the understanding that we have now and

the fame of the cylinder from this point

of view is based on the fact that the

Jewish authors interpreted as it were

for their own reasons something which

Cyrus was saying for his own reasons

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for many scholars the history of the

Jews begins with the return from exile

this is the first time they speak of

Jews they are faced by a great challenge

Ezra and other scholars compile the

Torah from writings and other traditions

it reinforces the confidence of a small

country that could always fall victim to

its superior neighbors again the goals

of the people in Jerusalem in late

monarchic times before the destruction

and the goals of the temple community

without a king then after they came back

from Babylonia are the same goals and

both are dealing with giving an identity

and with building the boundaries for the

nation and both do that with mainly two

platforms there's the platform of the

law which is extremely important the

book of Deuteronomy and so on and then

there's the second platform the platform

of history which explains how it all

began what happened what went wrong how

it can be fixed and what they're doing

how in order to have a better future and

the history part is also extremely

important for giving the framework the

boundaries the ethnic boundaries the

identity the shrine of the book is in

the Israel Museum here the oldest tor

attacks that have been so far found are

kept they are copies of copies they come

from Qumran on the Dead Sea they were

written down at around 240 BC

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the Torah became the most influential

text of the past two and a half thousand

years its triumphant March also resulted

from its being part of the Christian

Bible

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for devout Jews the Torah isn't a text

that developed over time but a godly

revelation every torah role has to be

treated with the utmost care and can

only be written by hand the sofa the

Torah writer needs years of practice

every one of the 300,000 letters is

carefully formed

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since its seen as a living object it's

only allowed to be made of natural

materials it is written on vellum with a

turkey or goose quill utmost

concentration is required because any

mistake would make the Torah unusable as

befits its sacred status the Torah is

kept in a special arc the holy ark every

time it's taken out of the shrine the

Cantor sings a song in its honor for its

protection and decoration it is

enveloped in decorative velvet and

fitted with a crown of silver and gold

the envelope is only taken off for a

reading

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no the shortened trom disputa followed

one can't imagine Judaism in the Jewish

people without the Torah but now one has

to ask what does the Torah mean is it

the five books of Moses per se or the

whole body of Jewish wisdom and

teachings that arise from the Torah and

we have to take the Torah as a whole and

not just the five books of Moses in the

narrow sense of course they are the

anchor point of the whole but there is a

vast body of literature that is based on

the Torah and that comes out of the

Torah or Scripture and the whole of

Jewish life in all its aspects is shaped

by the torrent of the kaltura and keep

it on toska some judicially binho Silas

picton so without the correct there

would be no Judaism no Jewish people

gave us can you little can you just

follow it became the constitution of the

Jews in the middle of the 5th century in

332 BC the Greek Macedonian ruler

Alexander the Great conquered the

Mediterraneans east coast

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soon Judea also belongs to his vast

realm

even though Alexander's Empire fell

apart shortly after his death Hellenic

civilization influenced the entire

region for centuries to come

numerous cities were constructed on the

Greek model one of the most important is

Marissa

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these days there is little evidence of

the city's former size in Israel's

barren landscape the whole mountain is

covered in a network of caves and

cisterns made by the one-time

inhabitants of Marissa

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one of the biggest is the Columbarium

cave pigeons were bred in 2000 Nisha's

as homing pigeons sacrificial animals

all simply as food the Necropolis which

is greek for city of the dead that is a

cemetery it has only recently been

restored Greek culture their sense of

beauty and their worldly joie de vivre

pervade the everyday lives of the Jewish

inhabitants

[Music]

the rich upper-class is particularly

fascinated the stately tombstones such

as those here in the Kidron Valley in

Jerusalem have Greek models

the superficiality of the foreigners and

their influence alarms the devout Jews

in the first book of the Maccabees it is

written that whereupon they built a

place of exercise at Jerusalem according

to the customs of the heathen and made

themselves uncircumcised and forsook the

holy Covenant and joined themselves to

the heathen Judas is the scion of an old

Jewish line of priests right from the

start he's brought up to despise Rikka

culture the polytheism of the occupying

forces is idolatry and therefore a grave

crime it angers his father the priest

Mattathias

particularly those Jews who conformed to

much are an abomination to him a

thousand times he's preached to his son

to stay away from the unfaithful the

situation escalates

in 178 BC the successors of the Greek

ruler Alexander attacked Jerusalem and

dedicate the temple to the god Zeus king

Antiochus forbids the reading of the

Torah and circumcision he sends soldiers

to force the population to worship Greek

gods they come to moody in the home

village of Judas in his family

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the priest Mattathias

adores the inhabitants god forbid that

we should forsake the law and the

ordinances in a rage Mattathias kills

the commander-in-chief the family flees

into the mountains soon more and more

followers come to join them for many

decades the rebels fight the occupation

after his father's death

Judas takes over the leadership he gets

the epithet Maccabi the hammer

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his biggest triumph judas maccabees

reconquer 'he's the Temple Mount in

Jerusalem and drives off there

Hellenized Jews he destroys the Statue

of Zeus and dedicates the temple to the

god of the Jews again on the 25th of

Kislev the third month of the Jewish

calendar

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according to legend only a small bottle

of ritual oil was left it is said to

have fed the flame of the menorah the

seven-branched candelabrum for eight

days

[Music]

a new new chef chef Joe LaCava the

fundamental message of the Hanukkah

miracle is additional enormous if you

just as we had a candle every day until

we have eight so to every Jew and every

human being should become better every

day

Dumbo should never be satisfied with

what they have already accomplished the

lorries to pick of a machine or tomatoes

like Halle Berry

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since 1995 fifty years after the

Holocaust the Jewish community in

Frankfurt has been openly celebrating

Hanukkah again

every year around December Orthodox and

liberal Jews meet in front of the old

Opera House the celebration unites them

with each other and with their ancestors

in the second book of the Maccabees it

is written that they ordained also by a

common statute and decree that every

year those days should be kept of the

whole nation of the Jews

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the celebration of the dedication of the

temple marks the glorious climax of the

revolt the story of the heroic

resistance of the Maccabees is told to

this day when Judas died his brothers

continued the fight his descendants

continued to rule the independent state

for another 200 years

[Music]

in 66 BC the Roman general Gaius

Pompey's Magnus conquers Asia Minor

[Music]

Judea becomes part of the Roman province

of Syria and is incorporated into the

Roman superpower

[Music]

from now on the city on the Tiber will

determine the fate of the Jewish people

here a man enters the political arena

who is despised by the Jewish people and

feared by them because of his

unscrupulousness herod the great the

roman senate declares Herod king of

Judea Rome will protect him as long as

he represents Rome's interests he

survives several changes of power at the

head of the Roman state through charm

and diplomacy when he ascends his Judea

enthroned the real power behind him is

actually Rome

the king reciprocates he builds a huge

port on the Mediterranean coast it

becomes the biggest town in Judea bigger

even than Jerusalem in honor of the

Roman Caesars he names it Caesarea

maritima Herod Commission's the best

engineers the city was not to be

inferior to Roman examples in any way

the artificial harbour complex becomes

the biggest in the eastern Mediterranean

there's enough space for an entire Roman

legion Herod is mostly concerned about

the effect of the huge buildings he

wants to modernize the state and impress

his subjects

[Music]

the port of Caesarea is a destination

for trading ships from all across the

Roman world a tax-free zone is created

to attract wealthy potential traders

[Music]

Caesarea becomes the showpiece of the

entire region

luxurious villas a forum theatre public

baths and different temples are all to

be found there

added to this is a circus in which

chariot races take place the city

regularly hosts sporting contests and

other mass events or dos nassif is [ __ ]

the inherent personally experienced the

power of Roman architecture

he saw the force in charisma of the

temples theaters circuses with his own

eyes that's why he wanted to introduce

them in his realm too because he saw in

them the pinnacle of culture he probably

wasn't a great intellectual he doubled

it can inertia hold us luangta little

girdle Jerusalem also still bears the

signature of Herod everywhere the

remains of his imposing construction

projects are to be found the Cardo the

great shopping street still runs through

Jerusalem's Old Town

nearby archaeologists excavated Herod's

residential area in the 1970s this is

where the rich and beautiful lived as

luxuriously as they did in Rome with

baths floor heating and elaborately

painted walls

[Music]

the majority of the people remain

suspicious they see the ambitious

parvenu Herod as a Lackey of the Romans

the King curries favor among the people

one major building project is meant to

silence the critics particularly the

devout Jews a new temple is proposed

which will even eclipse Solomon's Temple

it is designed to have an inner

courtyard which can accommodate vast

crowds of pilgrims this is how Herod

wants to go down in history his plan

works for a while Herod even manages to

unite religious splinter groups the

construction of the temple doesn't just

increase the prestige of the King but

also that of the Jewish religion in the

world

it also breathes new life into Judean

trade and Jerusalem becomes a metropolis

in which a hundred thousand people live

Herod however doesn't live to see its

dedication he dies 60 years earlier

[Music]

even 2,000 years later the size of the

area gives an idea of the overwhelming

impression that the complex must have

made on its visitors by far the most

famous city of the east is what the

Roman writer Pliny the Elder called

ancient Jerusalem will the peace between

the Jews and the Romans keep will the

small rebellious people come to terms

with foreign rule

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